“Isn’t it obvious? She’s a Phoenix, a Perennial.”
Will bit back through the pain, pulling himself to his knees, crawling to the chair to drag himself up high enough to see the drawing on the table of a woman engulfed in flames with what looked to be flaming wings expanding behind her.
“Impossible. They were hunted to extinction,” Tess interjected.
“Apparently not.” Jack gestured again towards the drawing.
“There’s a bigger issue,” Conrad announced, finally turning back towards them. “They won’t just want her for her blood. As I told you, my mum ran her blood, and it showed she had Elder blood and an unknown lineage. What I didn’t mention was, if the wrong people get hold of her, her life is over, they’ll think she’s a breeder.”
“What?” Will questioned, sending a fresh dribble of blood from his split lip as a looming feeling of dread built in the pit of his stomach. “No, that’s impossible. Breeders aren’t preternatural, and she incinerated those guys at the park. I mean instant ashes.”
“Because her life was in danger. If she’s really a Phoenix, she’s not just Elder blood, she’s part Perennial and trust me when I say if you have two parts, one doesn’t like it when it’s locked away. My mother said her necklace had layers of seals. Each new septennial, a preternatural’s power increases. She was almost seven when she was given the necklace, then when she hit puberty she discovered she could remove an unwanted transition with a kiss. My mother thought this septennial would see the seal’s power fail.”
“Wait! So that’s why she kissed all those people?” Will asked incredulously. Suddenly, her actions made more sense. The manner in which she would single someone out of a crowd, how no one ever spoke about what she did, and the way her friends, instead of stopping her, made ridiculous bets.
“We used to call it Salvation’s Kiss, because before becoming a Ciele she said her name was Ashley Salvation,” Jack answered.
“Salvation?” Conrad echoed. “As in one of the seven Perennial families believed to have been involved in the creation of the barrier?”
“What have I done?” Will despaired, clutching his side. He was grateful for the support of the wall at his back. Conrad’s punches had hurt like hell, but there was no doubt in his mind he had been pulling them, holding back.
“Sold your friend to into a nightmare where she’ll be drained and passed between blacklisted Elites to swell their ranks with sovereigns, that’s what,” Conrad snarled.
“So what do we do about it?” Will asked, consciously moving his energy towards the worst pains, despite knowing he deserved to feel every agonising throb.
“We rescue her, hopefully before someone realises exactly what they have.” Jack snatched his notebook from the table, bringing his attention to Will for the first time. There was no question about it, not one person could stand being in the same room as him. Not that he blamed them. He didn’t like himself at this moment, either.
“But where have the abductees been taken?”
“My father was working on a theory that it was being done by one of the Taphouses. The earlier abductees had all visited the same chain, but it only allowed them to get a warrant to search the property and check their records. Everything came back clean. They couldn’t apply any further pressure since all the victims also all went to our academy, and had other connections, but it was after this the MO changed and became more random. Since nobody has ever been recovered, there’s no evidence of their fate, and no clues as to where they were held.”
“So they could still be alive,” Will muttered softly.
“Don’t be naïve. If we’re going to act, we need to do so now, and discreetly. Chances are the Taphouse is already under surveillance by someone in my father’s team”—his eyes met Will’s, causing him to shrink back—“which is the only reason your friend here is still breathing. He’s a familiar face there, we need him.”
Chapter 12
Devon straightened his tie, smoothing out the wrinkles from his black, form-fitting suit. Even after only two years as Vincent Master’s head of acquisitions, he still appreciated the feel and look of this rich material, and if he was being honest with himself, he knew how amazing he looked. The clothes had been tailor-made and, whilst he wore the casual trimmings of a student while in the academy, here he was required to dress to his position.
The Taphouse, like many things in society, was divided by class. The commoners would dine, drink, and partake in their vices in the tavern-like area below. Whereas those of standing would reserve one of the many suites. Not all within the grand luxury of the Elite world were subject to all the benefits of this status. Tonight, there were but a few whom his sire, Vincent Masters, had approved for their special Black Card Menu.
This Elite menu was nothing more than a business card with the name of the establishment beautifully penned in golden ink upon the high quality card. Except its surface held a secret. When exposed to a low dosage of ultraviolet light, it would reveal the categories along with the abbreviation of the opiates in use with their Tabus. Within one minute of exposure the writing would fade, leaving no evidence of its existence except in the mind of its recipient. Such methods were but one way they ensured their illegal dealings remained unseen.
Entering the suite belonging to his sire and clan leader, Vincent Masters, Devon placed the card before him. His heart was aflutter with excitement, knowing his most recent addition to the Black Card Menu would be certain to please. Bending slightly, he placed his mouth to Vincent’s ear, whispering softly the identity of the woman brought in tonight, FAB-EB98V. His sire’s approval embraced him and, with a smile, Devon took his seat, sinking down into the luxurious armchair. Vincent
